Fragrance samples have been with us since the Thirties, but there hasn’t been much innovation in consumer trial since scent strips. Well, leave it to beauty industry veteran Jean Hoehn Zimmerman with entrepreneur Mark Husmann to innovate the sampling scene with Luxury Subscriptions, a new way for consumers to try out a scent before committing to a purchase. The way it works? A consumer buys a Luxury Subscription to Jean and Mark’s media partner, Harper’s Bazaar, for a premium price of $50 for 10 issues. [According to Harper’s Bazaar’s website, the price of a one-year subscription of 10 issues is $15.] The difference is that six of those issues will come with up to three deluxe samples of fragrance. How is that possible? The scents are packaged in a protective tube that slides into a sleek cylinder made of premium coated cardstock that is part of the onsert/ad card that nests along the spine of the magazine. Each Luxury Subscriptions issue then comes beautifully wrapped with the partnering brand’s branded, custom, metallized film covering, which protects the entire magazine. Each sample allows for 50 sprays of a given scent, so someone can really try on a scent to see if it fits. The first issue from Luxury Subscriptions drops in late October with the November issue of Harper’s Bazaar, and will feature three Tory Burch scents: Jolie Fleur Verte, Jolie Fleur Rose and Jolie Fleur Bleue. Up next, members will receive deluxe fragrance samples of the newest Michael Kors creation, Michael Kors Wonderlust Eau de Parfum, with the December / January issue.

All subscribers are guaranteed to receive a full one-year subscription. For example, a join in February 2017 will guarantee 10 issues of Harper’s Bazaar through February 2018, which includes the six special editions with the deluxe fragrance samples. While supplies last, all subscribers to Luxury Subscriptions will also receive a bonus issue of Harper’s Bazaar with deluxe fragrance samples as soon as they sign up for the first year of their subscription.